IPOH: The Education Ministry has been urged to take over the investigation into allegations of bullying and psychological pressure involving a teacher at a school in Chemor.
Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) Batu Gajah coordinator K. Kunasekaran said the investigation should be conducted independently and transparently, following concerns over how the teacher’s complaint was handled.
He said the teacher had alleged that she was subjected to bullying, intimidation and emotional pressure at the school between March and May.
The teacher has been openly making allegations on social media about her being bullied. She has also sought assistance from PSM.
“Among the allegations were that she was publicly criticised in the school’s official WhatsApp group, shouted at and prevented from seeking emergency medical treatment, resulting in her seeking hospital treatment after suffering a seizure,” he said in a statement Friday (Aug 7).
Kunasekaran said the teacher had lodged complaints with the District Education Office, Perak Education Department, and the Public Service Department, and police.
He said the Perak Education Department informed the teacher through the Public Complaints Management System (Sispaa) on Aug 3 that her complaint had been closed, with a finding that there was no emotional harassment, bullying or abuse of power.
Kunasekaran said the teacher subsequently experienced severe emotional distress and was admitted to the Emergency Department of Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun in Ipoh on Aug 4.
“Transferring the teacher to another workplace without a thorough investigation would not address the root cause of the allegations.
“I hope the ministry will intervene immediately and ensure that the case is investigated fairly, while identifying those responsible and taking corrective measures.
“We need to prevent similar incidents of what happened in the case of a teacher who was found dead at a school in Hulu Selangor on July 30.
“Every allegation of bullying, intimidation and psychological harassment within educational institutions must be investigated professionally,” he said.
The Star has reached out to both the Perak State Education Department as well as the State Education, Higher Education, Youth and Sports Committee chairman Datuk Khairudin Abu Hanipah.
